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Letters to the Editor Thursday

Posted: July 24, 2013 - 10:59pm | Updated: July 25, 2013 - 12:49am

The verdict in the Treyvon Martin trial has stirred the emotions of many in America, both positively and negatively.

On Friday, President Obama called for a dialogue on the subject of race; then on Saturday, rallies were held in several cities across the country calling for racial justice in America, including the city of Savannah.

And let us not forget the Sunday morning talk shows; they were full of dialogue about the president’s comment and the rallies that took place. These things are part of who we are as a nation; like many other events, they will probably fade from our memories in a few months.

I did not attend the rally on Saturday; instead, I was in my office preparing to interview a concerned mother and her 16-year-old black son. The family was referred to us because this child’s case manger felt he needed a positive role model in his life.

This young man was expelled from school for stealing and he has been in trouble on several other occasions. His mother was not worried about Treyvon Martin; she was worried about her son following the path of an older brother who is currently incarcerated.

She was not looking back, she was worried about his future and what would happen if he is retained in the ninth grade for a third time. She was not worried about the “Stand Your Ground” law; she was worried about the law in Georgia, which allows a 16-year old to drop out of school.

What future does he have?

I wish you could see the frustration and fear in this mother’s eyes as she looked for ways to save her son! Yes, maybe the time has come to discuss race in our country; but in the meantime, let us not forget about the children in Savannah who need and want a positive role model in their lives.

Like most non-profits in this community, we struggle every day to keep our doors open because of a lack of funding while our waiting list of children, especially boys, continues to grow.

We have 85 female volunteers waiting to get in the first stage of processing and only one male (we move men as fast as they come to us). After completing Stage 1, these females will go into the second phase where they go on our waiting list; they may wait up to a year or more until the right female child comes alone.

Our most urgent need is men and money. We wonder where the concerned men, especially the concerned Black men are.

We desperately need more Black men like Vaun Jackson to step up to the plate.

Vaun is a father of four; he is a veteran and works for CSX Railroad. Vaun is not looking for any special recognition nor is he looking to build his resume with community service hours.

Vaun is extra ordinary because he just want to help someone’s child succeed in life. I ask all concerned men of this community, especially Black men, to call me and volunteer.

The verdict is in from the George Zimmerman trial, and based on the evidence submitted, the jury had no choice but to return a not guilty verdict.

The prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that George Zimmerman is guilty of murder.

The NAACP and other prominent black leaders are outraged and have called for the federal government to charge Zimmerman of violating Trayvon Martin’s civil rights. This, in my opinion would constitute double jeopardy, which is prohibited in the United States Constitution.

There are many problems in the black community today for which the NAACP should be concerned. The traditional black family is in crisis, as fathers are absent in many households. A majority of black babies are born out of wedlock and have no positive male role models in their lives, and many of these are born to teenage mothers who are not equipped to care for a child.

The NAACP has played a vital role in the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. However, I believe they are still stuck in the 1960s, as there are more pressing problems than the outcome of a trial.

I would therefore challenge the NAACP and other prominent black leaders to step up to the 21st century and address the issues in the black community today.

PHIL BURNS

Savannah

Other slayings more deserving of attention

I’m not condoning what happened when George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. I just wonder why the media keeps using a four-year-old picture of Martin instead of the picture of how he looked that night.

Look at all of the unrest and injuries to innocent people that have occurred because of what has been published and said about this case. The jury came back with the only verdict they could based on the evidence presented to them.

Where were Rev. Al Sharpton, the NAACP and the media when in 2009 Roderick Scott shot and killed 16-year-old Christopher Cervini in New York state or when the two teens killed a 13-month-old baby in Brunswick last March?

Martin’s death was tragic, but why has it garnered so much more publicity than all of the other deaths around the country? Is it because the Martin family hired publicist, Ryan Julison, or is it because George Zimmerman is perceived as being a white male who shot a black male?

What about those other two cases?

Enough is enough.

MIKE NICHOLS

Savannah

Murder victim’s daughter asks about injustice

I think I need to rally family, friends, and others who seek justice for white victims.

My father was a homicide victim in his place of business during a robbery gone bad by two black perpetrators. One was subsequently killed by police during the commission of another robbery.

The second black perpetrator was tried and sentenced to 30 years in Trenton State Prison. He escaped within a few years and murdered a Domino’s Pizza night manager.

Arrested again, he was incarcerated for this second incident. Guess what?

He is out on parole.

Now what about a rally against injustice?

Do you think Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will give us some assistance?

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Great letter which is showing the problem for the black community! I would be willing to donate as I am sure many in Savannah would be if we can help. Why not hold some fund raisers? Bring your problem to the City newspapers where I am sure many people would want to help out! Take out an ad for donations or for people who are not working right now to volunteer. Obviously your message is not getting out there. I am physically unable to help but I can volunteer to do phone work or email etc. Faxing. Whatever is needed that could help your program.

Come on people....we can help and put time and money where our mouths are!

Look....I believe that GZ was innocent because he was defending himself against a younger, bigger, teenager who was looking for a fight. I think George Zimmerman had the right to defend himself if he thought his life was at risk.

But I think we need to help where we can to intervene before kids get too deeply involved in bad behavior and gangs. I am sure they all will not be saved but we can try to do what we can to change their environment and try to get good people to mentor kids with problems and perhaps no fathers around.

You probably won't recognize me or even know my name.
My name was Antonio Santiago.

I was the 13-month old baby who was shot in the face at point blank range by two Black teens who were attempting to rob my mom, who also got shot. A Grand Jury from my home town Brunswick GA determined the teens who murdered me will not face the death penalty because they were too young... too bad, I was given a death sentence by them for being too young. And, too White (yes I will say that); I was innocent, defenseless and in the 'wrong' neighborhood, although that is where I lived.

My mommy and daddy made the mistake of being White and living in a 73% non-white neighborhood, but my murder was not ruled a Hate Crime. Why Not?
The Justice Department never even investigated my death, or if my rights were violated. Why Not?
President Obama didn't take so much as a single moment to acknowledge my murder or honor me. Why Not?
I am one of the youngest murder victims in our great nation's history, but the media doesn't care to cover the story of my tragic demise. Michelle wasn't heartbroken. President Obama has no children who could possibly look like me, so it seems he doesn't care and the media didn't care because my story is not interesting enough to bring them ratings so they can sell commercial time slots. Also the media are in the business of creating strife as that is what brings viewers and advertisers, and racial strife is best for their business as it feeds on itself. And best for some politicians too... There are some who make a living on racial strife. But there is not a White equivalent of Al Sharpton because if there was he would be declared racist, so there is no one rushing to Brunswick GA to demand justice for me. I have no champion and the press is silent. The DOJ and Attorney General Holder are silent too when it comes to my case, do you think
there is a double standard at the Dept of Justice? Is that Justice?

There is no White Panther party to put a bounty on the lives of those Black guys who murdered me. I have no voice, I have no representation and unlike those who shot me in the face while I sat innocently in my stroller - I no longer have my life.

So while you are seeking justice, demonstrating, and even rioting for Treyvon Martin, please remember to seek justice for me too. It's only fair, and it's only just; and you do want justice, right? And I was only a year old, one seventeeth as old as Trayvon, just in case you feel Trayvon died too young...
Tell your friends about me, tell your families, get tee-shirts with my face on them and make the world pay attention, just like so many are doing for Treyvon Martin.
Don't I deserve at least the same as Trayvon does?

There has been something strange about this case from the start. Anyone who saw the mother should know that she's not playing with a full deck. However it would seem that the 2 youngsters were involved, as well as their family, in some way. At this stage it would seem that there is still a lot of investigation and fact finding to be done. The article that beach bum ref. brought a lot of info. , if correct, that so far has not been widely published. The only fault I find with that article is that it is written in a very racist manner just to cause an uproar. If the media would remain neutral in its news the people who are charged with investigating crimes could be much more effective in their job. Almost every case that is published gets the suspects tried and convicted before all evidence is in. Let the law do its job. Then if the evidence says na, its na, if it says yes than hang them. When are people going to wake up and realize that you can't believe whats posted in the newspapers or shown on TV. Wait until the facts are in. But a lot of idiots out there refuse to believe the facts.

Has been used by many people and churches to describe the " leader " or head of said church. I ( beginning to write these thoughts ) went on-line in search of the "dictionary" meanings of this word and found it to be meaningless. I always thought " Rev." was level of education equivalent, and a title that demanded respect. I wanted to write how many " Reverends" have turned out to be nothing but Sleazy, Skirt chasing, Silver tongued thieves. ( Hippocrates which people like myself DESPISE ) I was going on to FURTHER state that preaching the word of God has LITTLE to do with the more " affluent and famous " Reverends today. Revivals in these churches are badly needed, because they are teaching Hate, and not the word of God. They should be stripped of these enduring titles and be called " community organizers". They have no divine calling and do not serve anyone but themselves.

... to say "I am Trayvon" is an insult to every other black kid in the same circumstances as Trayvon who did not follow the punk path. You know the kids I'm talking about. The ones who don't make getting kicked out of school a full time job, don't get caught with burglary tools and stolen women's jewelry, don't do drugs and don't live the punk life.

Meanwhile, has anyone figured out that his wife, the svelt Huma Abedin, is Hillary Clinton's travelling partner, executive assistant, and "best friend?" This explains a lot? how playboys Bill Clinton and Anthony Weiner have a form-factor marriage and a love life, too?

And both of them say, "Oh what I did was wrong, I will not do it again" and make the sin of this infantile morality charade on the public? Instead of saying, "I have a love life, it is none of your business. Get a life and get over it."

Why is the US public mind degraded down to child-mind morality policing? And the press goes along with it and exploits it.